In memory: Fundraiser a ‘celebration’ of life

August 7, 2014

An event is planned Sunday in Cape Coral for a man who recently passed away from cancer.

The Come Celebrate The Life of Sammy Garcia benefit will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Dixie Roadhouse. Proceeds raised at the event will go toward a trust for Garcia's 1-year-old son, Brantley, as well as helping to cover the funeral expenses, with a portion to benefit the Be The Match Foundation.

Garcia, 20, lost his battle with acute myelogenus leukemia on July 11.

Tina Sanchez, a family friend, explained that Garcia was diagnosed three weeks before his son was born. He beat the disease twice over the course of 14 months, but lost against it the third time.

The benefit had originally been planned before Garcia's passing.

"I wanted to raise money so he had money to live on for him and his son," she said.

On Sunday, the benefit will feature family friendly games and activities.

"We're going to have monster trucks here out front," Sanchez said, adding that children can tour the vehicles. "They're going to have their engines going so the kids can hear them."

Inside Dixie, volunteers will be dressed up as characters, such as Snow White, for pictures with attendees. A ballon artist and face painter will be on hand, as well as two magicians.

"We have several bands," she said, citing Rex Bongo and The Sophisticated Hippies as one of them.

The event will also feature games, like an egg toss and cornhole.

"It's all donations, so they'll have to buy tickets to play the game," Sanchez said.

There are 50/50 raffles planned, as well as a silent auction.

"We have a diamond necklace, a Pandora piece of jewelry," she said. "We have computer stuff. We have baskets."

Other auction items include a signed item from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, a "Firefighter for a Day" for children, a round of golf for two, and certificates for salons and lawn service, among other things.

"We've gotten so much community support from people who have brought donations gave donations," Sanchez said. "It's just amazing."

The Be The Match Foundation, which is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, will have an information table set up. It will be manned by a mother and her daughter, who is a patient.

"The Be The Match Foundation is for people that need bone marrow transplants," Sanchez said, noting that Garcia needed one. "We need to raise more awareness for the Be The Match Foundation."

Food and drink will be available at the benefit, with the proceeds going to the cause.

"I would like to raise as much as we can," she said. "I never really thought about how much I wanted to raise. I just wanted to do the best I could do for Sammy (Garcia) and his son."

Sanchez encouraged families to come out and have a good time.

"Let's get out there and enjoy ourselves and show was a good community we are," she said. "We're a strong community and we just need to stand together and be Sammy strong."

For more information, visit the "Sam Garcia Benefit Page" online on Facebook. People can also contact Sanchez at tinajane2166@gmail.com or Sharon at (239) 671-6163 with questions.